OverviewThe NIHR and MRC are hosting a research showcase event for post-acute infection conditions research, including ME/CFS and long COVIDThe National Institute for Health and care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) are pleased to announce a jointly hosted research showcase event for post-acute infection conditions research, including ME/CFS and long COVID where we will:
- Hear from patients, charities, academia and industry on important outstanding research questions in ME/CFS and long COVID
- Discuss recent evidence in the field, particularly new findings from the DecodeME study, and from long COVID studies with a future-focussed outlook for new avenues for investigation
- Recognise the importance of future research into ME/CFS and long COVID with a spotlight on early career researchers in this field
- Highlight the bespoke support available from NIHR and MRC for researchers in preparing applications
We hope the event will encourage researchers to join the ME/CFS and long COVID field and enable new collaborations across specialties and disciplines to stimulate further vital research.Further details of the showcase event will be shared with attendees in due course including confirmation of your attendanceTo book your place for this event, please sign up through this Eventbrite registration link, highlighting your preference for virtual or in-person attendancePlease note that in-person attendance numbers is limited to 70 and virtual attendance is limited to 50Registration Deadline: 2nd November 2025
Agenda:
Registration and Refreshments from 10.00 to 10.45am
- Chair: Louise Wood, Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
Session 1: 10.45-12.35: Introduction and The State of Play in Post-Acute Conditions Research
Patient Priorities for the future of research into ME and Long COVID
- Opal Webster-Philp
- Sarah Barley McCullen
Showcase of established research findings
- Prof Danny Altman, Imperial College London: Immune mechanisms in Long Covid and other post-viral sequelae - an update
- Prof Amitava Banerjee, University College London
- Prof Manoj Sivan,University of Leeds
- Prof Chris Ponting, University of Edinburgh: Initial results of the DecodeME project
- Prof Dmitry Veprintsev, University of Nottingham
Early Career Researcher Showcase
- Dr. Katharine Seton - Quadram Institute: Light ME Up: Pioneering Remote Clinical Trials in ME/CFS Research
- Dr. Audrey Ryback - University of Edinburgh: Uncovering risk factors and the lifelong health impacts of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome from electronic healthcare records
- Dr Alkisti Mousaki - University of Leicester: Decoding the female bias in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at the molecular and cellular ultrastructural level
- Dr Max Taquet - University of Oxford: Cognitive and psychiatric symptom 2-3 years after hospitalisation for COVID-19: predictors, trajectories, and outcomes
Lunch break 12.35-1.20
Session 2: 1.20-2.30: Views from Industry, Charities and Funders:
- Krystyna Taylor - Precision Life: From Biology to Breakthroughs: Mechanistic Insights Driving Precision Medicine in ME/CFS and Long COVID
Charities’ perspectives on future priorities for research:
- Long COVID Support (Margaret O’Hara)
- Action for ME (Sonya Chowdhury)
Perspectives and Support from funders
- Overview of NIHR offer - funding and career development opportunities
- ’How can the NIHR Research Support Service help you?’ Gareth O’Brien, NIHR Research Support Service
- Nathan Beebe, NIHR Academy
- Overview from MRC - TBC
2.30-2.45 Break
Session 3: 2.45-3.45: Next Steps in ME/CFS and Long COVID - Workshop
Workshop sessions on tables to discuss key questions
Questions around the following:
o What are the important outstanding research questions?
o How can we encourage researchers to join the ME/CFS and long COVID field?
o How can we enable new collaborations across specialties and disciplines to stimulate further vital research?
Feedback from workshop and Close of formal meeting
Session 4: 3.45-4.45: Networking and Refreshments
It looks a well organised schedule to me. Grateful to Adrian for the head up. I hope I can get there - looks likely at the present.
